Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Aiyuk is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is slated to count $14.124 million against the salary cap in 2024. The wide receiver is coming off a 75-catch, 1,342-yard, 7-touchdown season.
He didn’t participate in the 49ers’ offseason program and skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp. He is subject to fines in excess of $101,000 for boycotting the minicamp.
Last month, he made headlines with a post to TikTok in which he told former Arizona State teammate and current Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels that the 49ers told him, “they don’t want me back.”
However, later in June, he told TMZ Sports he wanted to stay with the 49ers.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson recently reset the wide receiver market with his four-year extension that averages $35 million per season, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown ($32 million per season), Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30 million per season) and Miami Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle ($28.25 million per season) also have agreed to extensions this offseason.
49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel said during the team’s minicamp that he has been in regular contact with Aiyuk throughout the offseason, offering his help when needed on how to navigate the contract situation. Samuel agreed to a three-year extension with the 49ers in 2022, but not before he demanded a trade due to the slow pace of his contract talks. His top piece of advice to Aiyuk has been to remain patient.
The news of Aiyuk’s trade request was first reported by NFL Network.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.